Carousel Industries gumball machines

Carousel Industries gumball machines are personal candy dispensers created by Carousel Industries in the 1950s.

Background and Description

The Carousel gumball machine was created in the 1950s by Arthur Gold, the founder of Carousel Industries, a company that produced vending machines. They manufactured numerous candy dispensers and became the world’s largest manufacturers of gumball machines. Gold was one of the earliest inventors to convert and market these candy vending machines for home use as well as shop use.

Carousel gumball machines have a die cast metal base and glass domed top containing the gumballs. They accept coins in order to dispense the gumballs, and the coin tray at the base must be emptied when full. Depending on the age of the gumball machine, and whether it was produced for the U.S. or overseas, it may require different coins.

Carousel gumball machines come in various sizes, shapes, and colours, although red is the most recognisable Carousel machine colour.

There are some in novelty shapes, such as the mallard duck shaped gumball machine seen amongst UK eBay sales of Carousel dispensers, and even some that play music.

Collecting Carousel Industries gumball machines

Carousel Industries gumball machines and machine parts, in the same recognisable 1950s style, are still manufactured today as collectible items. These can be purchased via websites such as www.carouselgumballmachine.com or www.carouselgumball.com .

Carousel gumball machines were produced in great numbers. Vintage examples are not particularly rare. As new ones are still being produced, it may take some detective work to ascertain whether a gumball machine is an original Carousel make, or one produced after the company was bought out by Ford Gum & Machine Co. in the 1980s. The original ones should include a paper sticker with the Carousel Industries name and logo, and model number, included on the machine. The base is also sometimes embossed with the Carousel logo or name.

Gumball machines have often been used for advertising, a company name printed on the glass bowl that holds the candy. This can make certain machines desirable to advertising collectors as well as collectors of gumball machines.

Tall stands for Carousel gumball machines are also available. Some come atop tall spiral dispenser slides built in to the stand.

Value

New Carousel Industries gumball machines are generally sold for $10-$50, or slightly more if the stand is included.

Vintage used Carousel Industries gumball machines generally sell for slightly more than brand new ones, for between $20-$130 on auction websites such as eBay.